The event, organized by Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnamese Embassy in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), aimed to promote the cultural and artistic beauty of Vietnam to a wide audience in the Middle East.
At the Vietnamese Soul exhibition, Ngoc Han’s ao dai designs were displayed across five collections within the expansive space of the Etihad Museum in Dubai.
Ngoc Han dedicated significant effort to her ao dai exhibition in Dubai.
She even designed a mannequin made of mica to display an ao dai inspired by Middle Eastern culture and the iconic Vietnamese conical hat, serving as a centerpiece in the museum’s main hall.
This arrangement reflects Ngoc Han’s intention to showcase cultural fusion and express her deep respect for the UAE. During the opening ceremony, she wore an ao dai embroidered with motifs of the UAE’s national emblem, flag, and other traditional patterns.
The design drew inspiration from the Abaya, a traditional garment in many Middle Eastern countries, paired with a cloak and tuban headscarf. She received widespread acclaim from international guests.
At the exhibition’s opening, Ngoc Han explained why she brought five ao dai collections that blend traditional art with modern fashion to Dubai.
The first collection, Kim Hoang Paintings, honors a folk art form originating in Vietnam during the 18th and 19th centuries.
This collection brings to life the vibrant colors characteristic of Kim Hoang paintings: shades like red hiên, red điều, red sen, and yellow yến—colors closely tied to Vietnam’s Lunar New Year celebrations. These artworks not only served aesthetic and spiritual purposes but also depicted the simple lives of people in Northern Vietnam through New Year and worship paintings. By incorporating Kim Hoang art into ao dai, Ngoc Han created a unique connection between traditional heritage and contemporary fashion.
Miss Ngoc Han and international guests at the “Vietnamese Soul” exhibition in Dubai.
In the At Tỵ collection, Ngoc Han used contemporary artist Lê Thiết Cương’s powder paintings from his eponymous series to create patterns on ao dai, offering a fresh perspective on the year 2025.
Beyond the typical imagery of snakes—the zodiac symbol for At Tỵ—this collection delves into Eastern philosophies about the cyclical nature of life. Through fashion, the snake motif is transformed into meaningful symbols, celebrating the continuous flow of seasons, humanity’s relationship with nature, and traditional values reimagined through a modern lens.
An ao dai inspired by the UAE flag worn by Ngoc Han at the event.
The Hanoi Essence collection captures Ngoc Han’s vision of Hanoi, drawing inspiration from Lê Thiết Cương’s minimalist Hanoi-themed paintings. The clean lines and bold color combinations reflect the dynamic spirit of Hanoi—from its ancient Old Quarter architecture to its modern urban life. Each design blends traditional ao dai elegance with contemporary accents, creating a distinctive style.
The Sen Essence collection is a special collaboration between Ngoc Han and artist Đặng Phương Việt. On luxurious fabrics like silk and organza, sourced from Vietnam’s traditional craft villages, Đặng Phương Việt hand-painted his lotus artworks onto the ao dai. His masterful use of color gradients breathes new life into the lotus—a symbol of beauty, purity, and rebirth. This collection reinterprets the lotus through a modern lens, blending art and fashion seamlessly.
Ngoc Han introducing Vietnamese ao dai to international audiences.
Beyond the exhibition space, Ngoc Han’s ao dai were also worn and showcased by diplomatic staff from the UAE during the opening event.
Born in 1989 in Hanoi, Ngoc Han gained years of modeling experience before being crowned Miss Vietnam 2010. Fifteen years after her victory, she remains a beloved public figure known for her contributions to social and cultural causes. She is passionate about promoting Vietnam’s cultural heritage through ao dai, inspiring younger generations to appreciate their traditions.
Photos: Courtesy of the artist.
